Rotary cutting and drilling instrument



A. L. SORESI.

ROTARY CUTTING AND DRILLING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I2, |919.

1,377,288. Patented May 10, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INvENToR #nge fa L (Xb/erf ATTORNEY A. L. SORESI. ROTARY CUTTING AND DRTLLING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I2, i919.

FA INVENTOR //-rgea L. LSB/FSK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented May 10, 1921.

TTTTTT r wm Nm N mm ATTORNEY ANGELO L. SORESI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ROTARY CUTTING AND DRILLING INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application led September 1K2, 1919. Serial No. 323,304.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANGELO L. SORESI, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Cutting and Drilling Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in rotary cutting and drilling instruments, and for sawing, drilling and the like, being adapted for cutting wood, metal and other materials, and especially desirable for the purpose of drilling and sawing into the bones of the human body. An object of the invention is to provide such an instrument that may be controlled to a certainty, may be accurately gaged so as to definitely limit the extent of the cutting operation and will be of such form and weight as to be properly balanced when being used, in a manner as to steady the cutting and drilling points of the instrument, thereby aiding to a great extent in the cutting or drilling with accuracy and with a minimum of vibration. To this end I propose to provide a handle in connection with the apparatus which will be shaped to the hand of the user in a manner as to provide a balanced structure adapted to maintain a level position and of such weight that the drilling and cutting points do not vibrate. In this connection, it will be noted that the object of the invention is to make steady the cutting or drilling point itself so that a smooth and even cut without vibration of the cutting or drilling point itself may be obtained.

I further propose to provide gage means for limiting the action of the instrument, the said means being adjustable by the same 4hand supporting the instrument, and alsoy I propose to provide improved means for connecting the drill, saw or other tools of t'ie device. l

With these and other objects in view, embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of a drilling or cutting instrument according to the present embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a slightly Vmodified form of construction; and

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view thereof with parts broken away.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of my invention shown therein comprises a tubular shaft 10 provided with a reduced forward portion 11 tapered as at 12, and constituting the drill holding end of the instrument as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The bore 13 through the shaft is provided at the rear end with two annular enlargements 14 and 15 and within the bore and extending from the outer extremity of the enlargement 14 to the forward end of the shaft, there is disposed a rotatable spindle 16 reduced intermediately its ends as at 17 to minimize friction and having a flanged portion 18 engaging the enlargement 14, the said flanged portion being provided with an annular groove 19 engaged by a set screw 20 provided in the shaft to prevent longitudinal movement of the spindle. A longitudinal channel 21 is provided in the outer surface of the shaft 10 and disposed therein is an elongated spring member 22 having a spring cover strip 23 overlying the same, the said spring and plate being secured to the shaft by screws 24. The forward end of the spring 22 extends over the reduced end portion l1 of the shaft and is bent angularly as at 25 and vertically downward as at 26, said portion 26 being disposed in front of the end of the spindle, and projecting partially over an opening 26 provided in the end of the spindle adapted to receive the shank 27 of the tool which in Fig. 1`is -shown as a circular saw and in Figs. 2, 3

and 4 as a drill. A transverse pin 28 is provided in the spindle extending across the upper half of the opening 26 and engages the flat face 29 of the shank 27 to fix the drill against rotation relatively to the spindle, while the end 26 of the spring yieldingly engages an annular groove 30 provided in the shank to retain the drill in engagement with the spindle and at the same time permit rotation of the drill With the spindle.

At its rear end the spring 22 is provided with a downwardly bent portion 31 extending through an opening 82 of the shaft into the enlarged portion 15 of the bore of the shaft, and yieldingly retains Within the said enlargement 15 an annular coupling member 33 of the flexible shaft 34, by engagement with an annular groove 35 of the said coupling member, a finger piece 36 being `provided upon the said spring 22 to permit of its being lifted out of engagement with the said groove 35 to enable disengagement of the coupling. The end of the flexible shaft 34 is engaged with a head 37 rotatable within the bore of the coupling and provided with a projecting portion 38, semicircular in cross section and engaging a passage 39 provided in the end of the spindlel 16. a transverse pin 40 extending across the said passage engaging the flat face of the extension to cause rotation of the flexible shaft to be imparted to the spindle.

The handle 41 is provided with a cylindrical passage 42 extending therethrough and in which is engaged the shaft 10, the same being secured by means of a set screw 43. The handle which is of concave contour intermediately its ends and is substantially enlarged at its rear end, is `formed of very heavy metal. the disposition of the weight being such that as the instrument is held by the user, it will be properly balanced, and the Weight will be such that any vibration due to the drilling or other cutting operation will be counteracted. As a result of this, the cutting or drilling` point of the tool itself is always maintained without vibration. and the cutting or drilling can be carried out in a smooth and steady manner. The enlarged handle 4l being of a massive character, absorbs the shocks and impulses to which a tool not so connterbalanced is usually subjected. Vhen a tool under rapid rotation is suddenly applied to a surface to be eut. it translates the resistance to the handle and thus subjects the handle and hence also the tool to shock or impulse. Also. when a tool is actually doing its work and is removed, that is suddenly has no load to carry. then also it is subjected to shock. Again. a certain shock or impulse results very often from the action of the propelling device.

A certain amount of energy is stored up in such a propelling device, which is suddenly released, and hence subjects the handle and tool to shocks and impulses. All

these shocks and impulses from these and other causes are absorbed by the heavily weighted handle described.

At its forward end the handle is annularl) recessed as at 44 and 45 and is engaged by a rotatable plate 46, the opening 47 through the plate being stepped to correspond to the recesses 44 and 45 of the handle.

A pair of diametrically opposite stud members 48 and 49 are screwed into the forward exposed end of the handle, said stud members comprising enlarged substantially rectangular shaped, intermediate portions having screw threaded shanks extending from each side thereof, one of thel said Shanks being screwed into the handle While the other projects from the outer face of the rectangular portions. The width of the said rectangular portions being greater than the width of the forward exposed end of the handle, the elongated sides of the said portions project slightly over the inner and outer periphery of the forward exposed end of the handle, the portion projecting Within the inner periphery constituting a limiting abutment engaging the shoulder 50 of the shaft 1() thereby facilitating assembly of the parts. while the portion projecting over the outer periphery holds the plate 46 in place upon the end of the handle. diametrically opposed slots 51 and 52 being provided in the opening of the said plate to enable engagement of the same with the handle, the plate adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the handle when the said Islots respectively register with the rectangular portions of the studs 48 and 49.

The end l1 of the shaft 10 is provided adjacent the shoulder 5() with fiat surfaces and 53. the elongated sides of the said studs and the said flat surfaces being parallel to each other and forming guide means for a slide plate 54, said plate being substantially U-shaped. the intermediate open portion engagingthe flat surfaces 52 and 53 while elongated slots 55 and 56 are provided in the sides of the said member and engage the studs, the said member being held in place by means of nuts 57 and 58 screwed upon the projecting threaded portions of the studs 48 and 49. washers 59 and 6u being interposed between the said nuts and the upper surfaces of the plate 54.

'l'he face of the plate 46 is provided with a spiral groove 61 which is engaged by a series of teeth G2 provided upon the under side of the plate 54 so that by rotation of the plate 46. the plate 54 is caused to bemoved inwardly and outwardly. a recess 63 being provided in the forward end of the handle and in the shouldered portion 5() of the shaft l() for the reception of the teeth as the plate 54 is moved inwardly. An upright post 64- is provided upon the plate 54 and has formed therein a slot 65, its inner face being channeled as at 66 and having disposed therein a gage finger 67 bent inwardly as at 68 and adapted tobe adjustably fixed in its osition by means of a set screw 69. By adJusting the position of the end `of the finger 67 relatively to the drill as shown in igs. 2 and 3, the degree of the drilling action may be accurately controlled, the contacting of the end of the finger with the surface being drilled limiting the drilling action. Byrotation ofthe plate 46, the finger 68 will be caused to be moved toward or away from the drill and this action may be brought about by the thumb of the hand supporting the drill, the periphery of the plate 46 for this purpose belng provided with a series of arcuate recesses 70.

The nut 58 engaging the stud 48 has a screw threaded stem 7l thereon forming a pivot for a lever arm 72, a nut 73 holding the lever arm in place upon the said threaded Stem, one end of the said lever arm resting in a groove 74 provided in the portion 11 of the shaft 10 beneath the spring 22, while the other end is turned at right angles to rovide a thumb engagement portion 75 which, upon being pressed by the thumb, will raise the spring 22 so that its end 26 is disengaged from the drill, and the drill may thereupon be removed.

n performing the drilling operation, the end of thefinger 67, it will be understood, constitutes Van abutment to limit the drilling action while in the sawing operation the finger is disposed inwardly with respect to the toothed edge of the saw so that its side surface 68% constitutes an abutment to limit the depth of the cut made by the saw as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In operating the saw, the gage may also be used as a rest in which case it is first engaged with the surface to be sawed and outwardly of the saw edge, and by slowly turning the plate 46 the saw may be gradually lowered into engagement with the surface and be allowed to gradually cut into the surface, the weight of the drill and the support afforded by the finger resulting in the sawing operation being carried out with a high de ree of control and without vibration.

n Figs. 6`and 7 I have illustrated a slightly modied form of construction in which the end of the shaft 10 is tapered as at 76, a reduced neck 77 being provided between the said tapered portion 76 and the body of the shaft within the handle, the neck being provided with opposed .flat surfaces 78 constituting a guide for the plate 54 as in the. foregoing construction while the upper surface ofv the said neck is provided with a slot 79 through which the end 80 of the holdingspring 81 extends which engages the groove 82 rovided in the shank 83 of the tool. This construction differs from the foregoing construction in that the the point of securing the tool to the Spindle .is interiorly of the shaft while in the foregoing construction the point of securing the tool is exteriorly of the shaft.

My improvements provide a cutting or drilling instrument adapted for the cutting or drilling of various materials but peculiarl suited for the drilling or cutting of the s ll bones or other bones of the human body which, as will be understood, requires great delicacy in the application of the tool to the bone, and at the same time calls for great accuracy, steadiness and the application of controlled force. To this erid the weighting of the handle and the balaincing of the weight will so steady and control the surgeons hand that he may carry out 'the operation with the greatest degree of care and skill and with the required amount yof force. On the other hand, the gage enables an accurate predetermination'of the drilling or cutting to be carried out which is also specially advantageous in surgical 4operations in that such gages enable the tool to be so used as to cut or drill the necessary depth of bone, without however affecting the membranes or other delicate tissues therebeneath.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of my invention, but it is obvious that changes may4 be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cutting or drilling instrument, comprising a tool, and a handle supporting said tool, said handle being relatively short and of great diameter and heavy mass, said handle having reduced intermediate portion for engagement with a hand by which the handle and tool are supported, said handle also having a weighting portion forwardly of the reduced portion, said weighting portion being situated remotely and rearwardly ofE the tool, said handle further provided with a counter-weighting portion to the rear of the reduced intermediate portion, said counterweighting portion being of increased mass as comparative with the weighting mass portion whereby the former will balance the weighting portion and the too 2. A cutting or drilling instrument, comprising a shaft, a rotatable spindle in said shaft, a cutting tool connected with the forward end of said spindle, a drive shaft connected with the rear end of the spindle, and a handle for supporting said lshaft and spindle and having its forward end disposed rearwardly and remotely from said tool, the handle being of short length and great diameter possessing dense mass and great weight for steadying the action of the cutting tool, said handle provided with an intermediate portion for receiving a hand, said handle at its forward portion being increased in mass over the central portion to provide a weighting and vibration resisting part, the rear end of said handle being of increased mass/over the front portion forming in effect a counter-balancing part adapted to stabilize the weighting part and the tool.

3. A cutting or drilling instrument, comprising a massive handle of short length provided with a reduced and less heavy intermediate part forming a fulcrum engaged by the hand of the user, the rear portion of the handle being heavier than the forward' portion thereof, said handle being of short length and comparatively great diameter, a shaft projecting through said handle and beyond the forward end thereof, a drive spindle passing""'through said shaft, and a tool connected to the forward end of said drive spindle and situated remote from the forward weighted end of the handle.

4. A.,cutting or drilling instrument, comprising a weighted handle of short length and great diameter possessing heavy mass and being of greater weight at its rear portion than at its front portion and provided with an intermediate reduced and less heavy portion adapted to receive the hand of the user, a cutting tool supported at a distance forwardly of the forward end of the handle, and gage means adjustably carried by the forward weighted end of said handle and being adjustable longitudinally and transversely with respect to the axis of the tool.

5. In an instrument of the character described, a rotatable spindle, tool means detachably connected thereto, a limiting gage disposed relatively to said tool means, means adapted to adjust said gage trans versely of the aXis of the said tool means, and means adapted to adjust said gage longitudinally of the axis of said tool means.

just said gage transverselyof the axis of the said tool means.

7. In an instrument of the character described, a. rotatable spindle, tool means detachably connected thereto, a handle surrounding said spindle, a rotatable plate disposed at the forward end of said handlehaving its face in a plane of rotation at right angles to the axis of said tool means, and provided with a spiral groove, a plate overlying said face and slidable transversely thereof, and having means engaging said groove, rotation of said rotatable plate adapted to cause sliding movement of said slidable plate, and gage means on said slidable plate disposed relatively to said tool and adapted to limit the action of said tool.

8. In an instrument of the character described, a rotatable spindle, a handle surrounding said spindle, tool means, and spring means adapted to xedly secure said tool means to said spindle, and a depressible lever adapted to move said spring means out of securing relation with said tool means to permit of removal of said tool means.

9. A cutting or drilling instrument comprising a. handle having a bore therethrough, a rotatable spindle mounted in said bore, tool means detachably connected thereto at one end, a flexible driving shaft, and yieldable spring means adapted to removably secure. said shaft to the other end of said spindle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name hereunder.

ANGELO L. SORESI. 

